Architect of fallen building on the run

CHENNAI: Having designed a disaster, B Suganya, architect of the 11-storeyed Moulivakkam building, is absconding. On the run, and apprehending imminent arrest, Suganya has now moved the Madras high court seeking anticipatory bail.Suganya, 27, of Old Washermanpet is a registered architect and worked at Dhrishticone Architectural Communications Private Limited, which designed the ill-fated Moulivakkam building. The company's owner Vijay Bargotra and structural engineer Venkatasubramani have been arrested along with four others, including the building promoter Manoharan and his son Muthukamatchi.Suganya claimed in her petition that she had no role in the foundation or structural stability. The structure, which collapsed last Saturday, has claimed 61 lives so far. She said she had only co-designed the building and that she had no role in the actual construction.Suganya said her role as a registered architect was limited only to deciding the height and shape, height of rooms, size of windows and placement of rooms inside the flats. "The architect does not even decide the depth of the foundation, the soil test for building stability, thickness of pillars, composition of the concrete and thickness and strength of iron rods," she said, adding that such decisions are taken by structural engineers and civil engineers.The 27-year-old architect is facing charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder, endangering life and personal safety of others, causing grievous hurt.In her petition, Suganya said her role was limited only to co-designing the architecture plan, providing drawings and signing architecture plans as registered architect. Noting that she was an employee of Dhrishticone Architectural Communications Private Limited, she said: "An architect has no role to play in the building site or in the actual construction."Noting that she was a young lady who was an employee of an architecture firm, Suganya said that as she was ready to appear before police and fully cooperate with the investigation process, her arrest was not necessary. She, however, apprehended imminent arrest.Justice P Devadass, before whom the matter came up for admission on Thursday, adjourned the case to Monday for further hearing.